What is it about counting the seconds between lightning and thunder that you can tell about a storm?

Question

I read once somewhere that if you count the number of seconds between the time it lightnings, and the time it thunders you can tell something about the storm. I can't remember for the life of me what it was, does anyone recall hearing this before? If so, can you enlighten me on the details?

Thanks!

Answer 1

For every 5 seconds between the time you see the flash of lightening and the sound of thunder, the storm (lightening) is 1 mile away. For example, if you count off 15 seconds until you here the thunder the lightening is 15/5=3 miles away.

Answer 2

How many miles its away from you.

Answer 3

Its the seconds between the lighting and thunder is the distance it is away

Answer 4

I don't know, but If I stand on the roof of the Empire State Building and hug the giant pole maybe I will be enlightened and transformed into a mutant or given super powers so I finally be Equanimiy Man the super-hero who brings America and then the world back to serenity and understanding.

Answer 5

The speed of sound is between about 300 m/s and 350 m/s

So it's about 1 mile every 5 seconds.  The speed of light is so fast it basically reaches you instantly, so when you see the flash you can start counting, then divide by 5 after the thunder reaches you to find out ABOUT how many miles away the lightning was

Answer 6

every second is a kilometer so when there's a lightning you count, 1000-1, 1000-2, and so on... until you a thunder roars. this distance is the actual distance of the eye of the storm from your location